November Ballot Initiative to Amend Prop. 47 is in the Signature Gathering Stage; Deadline Looms

Ballot Initiative Update  
“The Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act” – A Ballot Initiative to Amend Prop. 47 is in the Signature Gathering Stage 

By Ray Hill 
Professor Emeritus, Santa Rosa Junior College 

This initiative (#23-0017A1) is planned to be presented before California voters in November 2024. These changes would put teeth back into petty theft with a prior and hard-drug crimes, which were eviscerated by Prop. 47 in 2014. The initiative is supported by the California District Attorneys Association, California Police Chiefs Association, California State Sheriffs’ Association, Crime Victims United, and several state and local elected leaders and business entities. It is being largely funded by retailers including Target, Walmart, 7-Eleven and Home Depot, according to campaign finance records. 

Among its provisions, the proposed revision: 

1. Would make a third conviction for theft of property with a fair market value under $950 a felony/wobbler with jail or prison time under 1170(h) P.C. A convicted party could avoid jail or prison time by enrolling in a mandated, court-supervised drug treatment program. Fail to complete the program, go to jail. A fourth conviction is a felony with the same provision for mandatory drug treatment and incarceration consequences for not completing the ....